Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Northwest University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South
Ogunlade, I., Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; Idowu Oladele, O., Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Northwest University, Mafikeng Campus, Private Bag X 2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa; Agboga, F.I., Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
This study examined the perceptions of Zonal Extension Managers (ZEMs) in Agricultural Development Projects (ADP) of the northern states in Nigeria regarding their human resource management competence and performance of human resources management activities. A simple random sampling procedure was used to select 13 out of 19 ADPs in northern Nigeria. A total of 52 questionnaires were mailed to the respondents but 42 were returned which made a return rate of 80%. The data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, rank and multiple correlations. The results show that the ZEMs were all males with mean age of 49.7 years-old, married (92.9%) and 26.2% had B.Sc/B.Agric. The highest human resource management competencies perceived by the ZEM were knowledge of organization (mean=4.69, SD=0.52), interpersonal relations (mean=4.57, SD=0.63) and engagement (mean=4.43, SD=0.70). The human resource management activities for which the ZEM indicated highest means were ability to understand the history, philosophy and contemporary nature of extension (mean=3.81, SD=0.89) and technical proficiency that enhances individual and organizational effectiveness (mean=3.76, SD=0.43). There is a significant positive relationship between human resource management activities, tenure in extension services and human resource management competencies (r=0.57, r=0.11, p=0.05), respectively. The findings revealed the training needs of ZEM in terms of human resource management.